Kinetograph



1930, D. J. MORTON 1,773,113

KINETOGRAPH Filed April 9, 192"! Patented Aug. 19, 1930 FATE OFFICE DUDLEY J. MORTON, OFNEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT Application filed April 9,

l This invention relates to processand apparatus for orthopedic measurement. Great inconvenience and distress is caused by troubles with the feet, which are commonly 5 generically designated as flat foot. Heretofore, however, the various conditions, thus loosely classified have not been customarily differentiated from each other or accurately designated by reason of the inability of the diagnostician to determine the exact conditions exist-ant.

It is impossible to form any accurate conception of the foot conditions by mere impression of the foot upon a surface or by the I discoloration of the under. surface of the foot by the floor, since divergent conditions and different natural characteristics respond similarly to such crude methods. Heretofore no satisfactory quantitative methods of measurement have been available.

As is well known, the bones of the foot constitute two arches at right angles to each other; one of these extends from the ball of the big toe to the ball of the little toe, and is called the metatarsal arch. The principal arch is supported by the metatarsal arch and tht heel. The normal condition of the foot,

therefore, distributes the weight of the body' between the three points of suspension, comprising the two ends of the metatarsal arch and the heel.

The present invention is concerned more particularly with determining improper conditions of the feet while the patient is walking.

Difiiculty with the foot generally results from the fact that there is less lateral stability in the metatarsal arch because of its relatively narrow width. There is a tendency of the ankle, therefore, to bend either outwardly or inwardly. The latter element is the more common and is called pronation. condition the main arch of the foot no longer lies in a vertical plane as it should, and if this condition continues and becomes aggravated,

condition of fiat foot.

The incipience of difiiculty with the arches of the foot is. generally indicated, therefore,

"during the step cycle.

In this i attained;

fil r KINETOGRAIT'H 1927. semi no. 182,214."

by an improper distribution of Weight between the three pointsof support. In accordance with this invention, therefore, means are provided for indicating the relative distribution of weight between thethree points of support. Since, however, this invention relates more particularl to the measurementof the foot while wal ing and while thus the weight distribution varies from instant to instant, the invention contemplates means for recording the maximum value of pressure to which each point is subjected In the embodiment of the invention herein shown there is provided a plane surface over which theperson may be caused to move and means are associated with that surface or with those, portions of it whichare to contact with the foot, for recording the maximum value obtained by. the pressure thereon. In

. the invention andwithwhich the process may be carriedout, Figure 1 isa perspective view .of'the apparatus. Figure'Q'isa section on the line 2- 2 of Figure 1, on an enlarged scale. Figure 3. representsan actual impression'made bya normalfoot upon the apparatus and Figure 4 representsgan impression made bya foot which is pronated. The parti cular construction of the apparatus "will be 7 best-seen from Figure 2, in which the numeral ill indicate 's a base ofanyconv'enient material, preferably of'a suflicient' length to enable e? .s bis 'w'fi k we s epsl r rya 51 ase i JQ Qrih t.iai m las i -m y he i umeral id ignate a ro of impression 'mate'rial, which m t qncvsni ly. a r91 rar so mi m h w at i,thetflies riniu und e e n may be c usedj iorarli .th isiipportil; sh w 7 ate? Guides 5 i may be arranged to' overlie the paper if desired to retain the same in place. Associated with the strip 4 are means capable of makin an impression upon the paper substantial y proportionate to the 5 weight superposed upon it. In the form illustraced this comprises a rubber mat 6, having projections, here inthe form of ointed or a aria s re r g s, PW face,'"wh1le a carbon strip 7, as for exam 1e,

10 ink fabric, is interposed between the ri ge's and the paper laithisconstruction, when the patient is caused to walk across the sheet the points of the V-shaped rubber ri as are depressed, as a functlonof the we ght imposed uponeab unit ofarea and this, t only incr the amount of carbon 7 "F f-ii trans erred to the" vii-sheer the sheet, be- ,canse of greater pressureybut also increases the widtl'rof each v'rinpression because of the a flatte of the apice's fof, the ridges. Fur- 'therni dfi reason of a yielding of the foot andfmiihthetotal area of contact between the points 9f suspension and the paper increases witlit pressure y n 9 Ijlltion the-patient is causedto walk 7 over t e s'urface of the apparatus after the sac cot-print is recorded on the under .sur-

face of tl1 e paper strip in a series of spaced impressions corresponding to the projections o rubber mat. Thus, where lon itudinal {1W used the impression will e in the F pluralityiof parallel lines. These I lineswill, owever, varv U ss-f fia hl andltbe relative blackness of the bree points of suspension is substantially proportional to the relative weight distribw tion H thereon. scope'of t isinvention, any suitable means amey, be employed to make a record of the momentary maximum pressure to which each I unit of area is subiected, but the one herein illustrated is sim' e and eflicient, and enm1l? Massed 9 1 certain changes in carrying out the i. to fii' od that the follow- 7 M E uitwda to cover all of the i: and specific features of the invention deserted, and all statements of the ,1 1 -y t ,p h of the character described to, receive an imw s W1 aawi e shl havebeen su r "osed as described and m P P both in intensity Obviously, within the broad ample accuracy for 1ag- I 9 elements by which said surface is supported, each of said printing elements being depressible by pressure to increase the printing area in response to increased pressure, said surface and said printing element together constituting a support on which a person may be caused to walk.

2. A device of the character described com prising, in combination, a strip of rubber having inverted V-shaped corrugations, said corrugations being yieldable responsive to pressure, a strip of paper thereon and supported by said corrugations and transfer material in contact with said paper.

3. An orthopedic measurement device including, v in combination, transfer material and a support therefore having spaced yielding transfer material supporting parts.

4. An orthopedic measurement device including, in combination, a transfer sheet and a support therefor having on its sheet-supportlng area a multiplicity of spaced resilient support ng parts. p

5. A device of the character described comprising, in combination, a strip of material serving as a carbon transfer sheet, a strip of paper superposed thereon, said material restng on a plurality of resilient corrugations,

said paper being ada ted to transfer an impression thereon at the points'that the corrugations contact with the transfer sheet, proportionate to the area of said points.

In testimony whereof I afllx my sigriature.

' DUDLEY J. MQR on.

loo 

